Has Your Baby Been Harmed by Necrotizing Enterocolitis?

NEC is a serious disease that develops when the tissue in the large intestine becomes injured or inflamed.

When the wall of the intestine is invaded by bacteria, it can cause a local infection and inflammation that can destroy the lining of the intestine.

This can cause the bowel to become perforated, and bacteria can pass into the bloodstream, causing a devastating infection. If immediate treatment is not provided, it could put the baby’s life in danger.

While NEC can develop in all newborns, up to 80 percent of NEC cases involve premature babies. According to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, NEC affects between one and five percent of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions.